Chain



F. RENZ CHAIN May 14, 1929.

Filed July 2, 1928 ATTORNEYS.

Patented May 14, 1929.

UNlTEDfl STATES 1,712,582 PATENT OFFICE.

FRIEDRICK BENZ, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO SPEIDEL CHAIN 00., A FIRM COMPOSED OF FREDERIC SPEIDEL AND SPEIDEL, OF PFORZ HEIIVI, GERMANY, DOING BUSINESS IN PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

CHAIN.

This invention relates to a chain for use as a bracelet for wrist watches or the like; and has for its objectto provide a thin flexible band which when worn on the wrist for attaching a watch thereto will not interfere with the use of the wrist for writing or otherwise inconvenience the wearer of the same. V

A further object of the invention is to provide a constructionwhich will withstand longitudinal strains without separation and which presents an attractive appearance when worn. V p

This invention further consists in the connecting together of a sheet metal body link by a frame link with portions of the body link folded to substantially completely house and hide the connecting links from view.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certainno'vel features of construction, as will be more fully de" scribed, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims. y

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top planview on an enlarged scale of the chain'formed in accordance with this invention. e 1 e F ig. 2 is a view'looking at the under side thereof with some of the links partially in section to better show the construction thereof.

Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the frame link.

Fig. 4c is a perspective View of the cut out blank of the body link before being bent into shape.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the body link with the wing portions thereof bent into position to receive the frame links.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing two of the frame links as connected by a body link in the position illustrated in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing the wings folded into the position which they assume in the finished construction.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the edge extensions as also bent into position which they assume in the finished construction.

Fig. 9 is a section showing the wings as bent into final position with the edge extensions as partially bent toward final position.

Fig. 10 is a section similar to Fig. 9 with the edge extensions bent into final position as illustrated in Fig. 8. i

Fig. 11 is a section on line 1111 of Fig. 8. i .Fig. 12 is a top plan view of a modified construction showing the edge extensions as terminating at the edge of the frame links.

It is found desirable in chain structures of the type to be worn as a band or strap, to secure a watch on the wrist, of advantage to provide a construction of a minimum thickness to avoid obstruction of the use of the wrist for writing purposes and the like and to give a-neat apearance when worni and in order to accomplish this result I have connected together frame links by sheet metal body links such that the thickness of the combined construction is substantially twice the thickness of the body link plus the thickness of the frame link and in so doing I have provided an extremely strong and durable construction which will withstand the longitudinal strain to which it is subjected without the separating of any of the parts; and the followingis a detailed description of the present embodiment of this invention illustratingthe preferred means by which these advantageous results may be accomplished:

With reference to the drawings, 15 designates the frame link which is generally rectangular in shape and provided with a rectangularly shaped opening 16 leaving bars 17 and 18 about which wing portions 19 extending from the body portion 20 of a sheet metal connecting link are folded. The edges 21 and 22 of the wings abut to form a portion of the back wall of the body link and extending portions 23 of the same width as the body 20 are formed on the edges thereof to cover the top surface of the frame links and are folded about the edges of the frame links, as illustrated at 24, see Fig. 8, with their extremities 25 abutting the edge portions 26 and 27 of the wings to complete the back wall of the body link and house a portion of each of the connected frame links therein.

Each of the parts of this bracelet is of thin sheet stock and the thickness of the chain as a whole is substantially the combined thickness of twice that of the sheet stock of the body link plus that of the frame link.

In some cases the top of the body link is extended as at 28, see Fig. 12, a distance generally 'rectangularly-shaped a sheet metal link having a body with oppop to cover the upper part of the frame link sitely extending wings, each positioned thri'ra frame link in contact with the body and folded together with their ends abutting and edgeexten sions on said body of a widt 1 sub'stantiall that of the body folded about the edges 0 adjacent frame links and abutting the edges of said folded in win s to form complete top and bottom walls, w ereby the frame links are hidden from view from eitherth'e top or bottom of the chain.

2. A bracelet chain comprising a series of generally rectangular frame links, each with a. generally ,recta'n ular openin therethrough, sheet meta links each having a bod of a length substantiall the len h of sai opening with wings su stantial y the length of said openings extending therethrough and folded together with their ends abutt1ng,'- andedge extensions on said body of a widthsubstantially the width of the body folded to provide top,'edge and bottom portions and abutting the edges of the wings and covering the edge portions of the frame links. 7

3. A bracelet chain comprising a series of sheet stock frame links, sheet stock links connectin the same, each connectin link having a ody portion against whic 1 the portions of adjacent frame links contact, win portions folded about said frame links and substantially in contact with the opposite sides thereof, and edge portions extending from said body over the edge portions of said frame links to partially hide the same, whereby an extremely thin construction is provided.

4. A bracelet chain comprising a series of sheet stock frame links, sheet stock links connectin the same, each connecting link having a ody portionagainst which the portions of adiacent frame links contact, win portions f0 ded about said frame links and substantially in contact with the o posite sides thereof and edge portions folded about the edges of adjacent links and meeting the edges of said wing portions, whereby an extremely thin construction is provided.

5. A bracelet chain com ising a series of body links, each formed 0 a sheet stock base with wings folded into abutting relation at the bottom thereof and edge extensions to abut the bottom ed of the wings, and connectin links em racing said wings of adjacent body links and confined between said base, said wings, and said extensions.

6. A bracelet chain comprising a series of body links, each formed of a sheet stock base with wings folded into abutting relation at the bottom thereof and edge extensions folded to abut the bottom edges of the wings, and connectin links embracin said wings of ad'acent bo y links and confined between said ase, said wings, and said extensions, and substantially covered thereby.

In testimony whereof I atlix my signature.

FRIEDRICK BENZ. 

